Strand controlled mechanism



July 12, 1955 D. B. M INTYRE STRAND CONTROLLED MECHANISM 2 SheetsSheet 1 Filed July 2, 1952 y 1955 D. B. M INTYRE STRAND CONTROLLED MECHANISM 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 Filed July 2, 1952 Application July 2, H52, derial No. 296,825

t or. names;

This invention relates to mechanism arranged for association with a textile machine and responsive to the presence or absence of a str Such mechanisms are commonly, though not always, employed in connection with stop motions for stopping the operation of a textile machine when a strand breaks.

The present invention is shown in the drawinos embodied in such a mechanism, particularly des for use in connection with carding machines and spinning frames where the strands operated upon are slivers.

One object of the present invention is to provide a mechanism responsive to the presence or absence or" a sliver and effective to close a low voltage elec :ic circuit should a sliver break and thus become abscnt from its controlling position.

A further object is to provide for the closing of such a circuit where the closing switch mechanism is in a position not liable to be affected by lint or dirt.

A. further object is to provide switch contacts of long life and to provide adjustment for bringing new surf into active position to make the Contact when desired.

Still. another object is to provide for automatic variation in the contact areas so as to spread wear.

Still another object is to provide an improved sliverengaging element easily adjustable to suit different conditions.

For a complete understanding of this invention reference may be had to the accompanying drawings in which:

Figure l is a fragmentary end elevation of a drawing frame embodying the invention.

Figure 2 is a detail sectional view on line Figure 1.

Figure 3 is a detail sectional view on line of Figure 2.

Figure 4 is a view similar to a portion of Figure 3 but showing the parts in contactnialting relation.

Figure 5 is a detail sectional View on line 5-5 of Figure 3.

Figure 6 is a perspective view of a counterweight. Figure 7 is a perspective view of a flipper. Figure 8 is a diagrammatic view of the arranged in a stop motion circuit.

Referring first to Figures 1 and 2, at l is shown the support of a drawing frame, two slivers 2 being shown,

mechanism which are delivered from the previous mechanism and which come together between a pair of rolls and 4 Each of these strands or sliver Z is arranged to have acting thereon a strand-contacting mechanism constructed in accordance with this invention and indicated generally at 5. It should he understood, however, that such a mechanism can be arranged on other types of textile machines as desired, there being such a mechanism for each of the strands or slivers either delivered to or from the machine to which the mechanism is applied.

The mecr anism itself is shown more particularly in Figures 2 to 7. It comprises upstanding supports ill which are secured to a base ll mounted on the frame 1 and fixed thereto by any suitable means such as the pins 1'2. The supports all have fixed thereto at their upper ends an inverted metal ic channel-shaped element 15, preferably nickel plated on the inner face, beneath which is arranged in parallel relation thereto a horizontal rod 16. This rod is, as shown best in Figure 5, may have a series of peripheral grooves at 17 spaced therealong which define lengthwise portions each of a length slightly greater than the width of a flipper 2 3 shown detached in Figure 7. Each flipper 25 is provided with an end portion 21 preferably somewhat channel-shaped or laterally concaved so as to engage partly around the strand and which may be nickel plated so as to present a smooth surface and which may rest upon the top face of the strand such as the sliver 2. This shaping of the end portion 21 provides an automatic guiding action by the strand as it passes therebeneath and which may the flipper 2i) to slide bacl: and forth along its pivot rod 16 between the limits imposed by split spring rings which may be snapped onto the rod 16 between the several flippers As shown each of the flippers 26 at its end opposite rovided intermediate its sides with a tail 2s partly severed therefrom. This may be bent from the general plane of the flipper at about right angles thereto as is shown in Figures 3, 4 and 7. On either side of the tail the material of the flipper coiled to form a partial loop 27 of a size to receive the rod freely so that each flipper is independently rockable on the rod l6 and may have a small ampl do of motion lengthwise of the rod. The tail 26, as shown in Figure 7, is preferably rounded at its end at St? and when no strand is in position the weight of the flipper brings the end 3-0 of the tail into contact with the inner surface of one of the legs 31 of the channel Under normal operation of the machine the strand or sliver 2 holds the end portion ill of the flipper elevated somewhat so that its tail 2-6 is out of contact with the channel element 15.

The flipper, being of sheet metal and preferably of stainless steel, may be quite readily bent to conform to the size of the sliver and to position the tail 26 as desired so that it contacts with the channel 35 when the end portion 23 is at the desired height with respect to the pivot rod 16, and the pressure with which the flipper engages the strand may be increased as desired by placi 5 over the tail 26 a counterweight of the desired size such as shown at 35 and in detail in Figure 6. This counterweight may have a supporting plate portion 36 provided with a slot 37 of a size to receive the tail 26 therethrough as shown in Figures 3 and 4. Counterweights of various sizes may be employed and selected in order to insure the desired pressure of the flipper on the strand.

Before and after the engagementt of the flipper on the strand, the strand preferably passes through guide members 49 which prevent undue lateral motion of the strand. Such guide portions may be formed of ceramic material or they may be enameled or otherwise surface-treated to present a smooth guiding surface to the strand.

The flipper and the channel an electric switch. As shown in Figure 8, one terminal nected to the channel 15 and the other side is electrically connected to the pivot 16 through conductor 4-6 and ground 47, respectively, in a manner best shown in Figure 5. Thus when the tail 2:? of a flipper engages the inner face of the channel 15 when no strand is present, the circuit is closed between the flipper and the channel and this circuit so closed may be used to actuate a signal such as a lamp 455 shown in Figure 8, or to energize the coil 49 of a relay St), or both.

The terminals of lamp 48 are connected through leads 51 and 52, the lead 5i leading to one side of the source of power and the lead 52 leading to one terminal of the switch mechanism herein shown as the rod 16. The relay coil 49 is similarly connected through the leads 53 and 54. Energization of the solenoid 49 opens the switch in the circuit to the machine drive motor 55 so that the machine stops when any of the flippers closes its circuit.

It may some times be necessary to hold one or more of the flippers inoperative, as where it is not desired to run a strand therebeneath. To this end the inside face oi the channel 15 may have attached thereto resilient pins of rubber or the like. These may well be provided with suction cups 61 which may be secured either by their suction or additionally by cement, if desired, to the inner face of the top wall of the channel as shown in Figures 3, 4, and 5, the portion 6i) lying in the swinging path of the tail 29, so that when the tail is pushed past the member 60 into the dotted line position shown in Figure 3, the weight of the flipper holds it in contact therewith out of position to engage a strand of the textile material and also out of position to close electrical contact with the channel 15. Whenever desired, however, the flipper may be returned to operative position by merely exerting sufficient downward pressure on its outer end to cause it to snap by the element (til. By rounding the end portion of the tail at 36, the contact is somwhat localized, thus tending to prevent burning when contact is made, and the provision for limited axial motion of each flipper between its spring ring 1'7 provides for automatic extension of the area of contact of each flipper with the channel 15. Moreover, the channel member 15 may be removed by removal or its attaching screw 65 and reversed so as to present the opposite side or leg of the channel into position to be contacted by the flipper tails, whenever one leg of the channel has become burned or worn to an undesirable degree. it will also be noted that the electrical circuit is of low voltage and that the contact is made above the level of the strand and where it is protected by the inverted channel from access by lint, dust, and dirt.

,From the foregoing description of an embodiment of this invention it should be evident to those skilled in the art that various changes and modifications may be made without departing from its spirit or scope.

1 claim:

1. A device of the class described, comprising a flipper pivotally mounted and having an end portion shaped to ride on a strand and having a tail, an inverted channel element arranged above and parallel to said flipper pivot and arranged to be contacted at times by said tail, and a A weight having means for support on said tail in a direction to press said end portion against said strand.

2. A device of the class described, comprising a pivot rod, a flipper journaled on said rod, and having an end portion shaped to ride on a strand, said flipper having a tail, an inverted channel-shaped element supported above and parallel to said rod and adapted to be contacted by said tail when a strand is not present and said end portion drops below its strand-engaging position, and yielding means within said channel-shaped element adapted t0 support said flipper out of contact with said strand and said tail out of contact with said element.

3. A evice of the class described, comprising a pivot rod, a flipper journaled on said rod and slidable axially thereof for a limited distance, and having an end portion taped to ride on a strand, said flipper having a tail, an inverted channel-shaped element supported above and parallel to said rod and adapted to be contacted by said tail when a strand is not present and said end portion drops below its strand-engaging position, and a yieldable post carried by said channel-shaped element between its sides in position to be engaged by said tail and releasably hold said flipper out of strand-engaging position and out of element-engaging position.

4. A device of the class described, comprising a pivot rod having peripheral grooves spaced therealong, flippers each of less width than the spaces between said grooves pivotally supported by said rod and having a channels'haped end portion adapted to ride on a strand, spring rings engaging in said grooves and limiting the motions of said flippers lengthwise of said rod, each of said flippers having tail extending therefrom, and a Contact member above and parallel to said rod and against which said tails are adapted to contact when no strand is in position to be engaged by the respective flipper, and an electric circuit of which said contact member and any of said flipper tails form a controlling switch device.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 

